Bladnoch Samsara forms part of the Lowland distillery’s core range, named The Classic Collection, of single malts. The range consists of four no age statement whiskies – Vinaya, Samsara and the cask strength Liora are unpeated, while Alinta is peated. Samsara, meaning ‘rebirth’, is a full-bodied and fragrant blend of aged malts matured in ex-bourbon and ex-Californian red wine casks.
Bladnoch was founded in 1817 by brothers John and Thomas McClelland. It is the oldest Lowland distillery that remains in production, beating Auchentoshan (founded in 1823) and Glenkinchie (1837). The distillery is located in a remote spot of Dumfries & Galloway close to the village of Wigtown and is further south than parts of northern England, including the city of Newcastle.
The name is derived from the ancient Gaelic place name of Blaidzenoch and the nearby River Bladnoch supplies the water for the whisky production. The current owner is David Prior, who saved the distillery from liquidation in 2015. He funded a complete renovation with production recommencing in 2017. The current capacity is 1.5 million litres per year.
Bladnoch Samsara is bottled at 46.7% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It is available through specialist whisky retailers and direct from the distillery via www.bladnoch.com. A bottle should cost £70-80.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is deep copper and the nose is full of sweet and fruity aromas. Crumbly vanilla fudge and soft baked apple lead the nose and are supported by distinct aromas of baking spices (think of cinnamon especially) and gingerbread. Underneath sits a confected dusting of icing sugar and a pinch of cocoa powder.
On the palate, this whisky is rich, sweet and mouthcoating. Bold notes of juicy raisin and sultana instantly hit the nostrils, followed by luscious and luxurious notes of golden syrup and baked apple – imagine this sprinkled with brown sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. Then comes a further note of cocoa nibs, which add to the richness, while a suggestion of gingerbread sits underneath. Late hints of freshly sawn oak and menthol also evolve.
The finish is of decent length and remains rich, sugary and sweet for much of the time, the dried fruit raisin-like quality in particular. As the sweetness fades a distinct drying oak note takes over and this extends the finish nicely.
What’s The Verdict?
This whisky is deliciously rich, sweet and bold. It is clearly playing that role in Bladnoch’s core range, while the others are lighter, cask strength or peated. This creates something for everyone in the range and pushes the spirit in differing directions. Samsara is not the most complicated whisky but is highly enjoyable, expressive and full bodied.
